Drosophila Cup is an eIF4E-binding protein that functions in Smaug-mediated translational repression.

ABSTRACT: Translational regulation plays an essential role in development and often involves factors that interact with sequences in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of specific mRNAs. For example, Nanos protein at the posterior of the Drosophila embryo directs posterior development, and this localization requires selective translation of posteriorly localized nanos mRNA. Spatial regulation of nanos translation requires Smaug protein bound to the nanos 3' UTR, which represses the translation of unlocalized nanos transcripts. While the function of 3' UTR-bound translational regulators is, in general, poorly understood, they presumably interact with the basic translation machinery. Here we demonstrate that Smaug interacts with the Cup protein and that Cup is an eIF4E-binding protein that blocks the bi

SUBMITTER: Nelson MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1271664 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature